Elon Musk’s social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), has gone offline once more in Brazil, just a day after briefly resuming services in defiance of a judicial ban imposed by the Brazilian Supreme Court. This latest development underscores the ongoing conflict between Musk and Brazilian authorities over compliance with local laws.
The Brazilian Supreme Court had previously ordered X to suspend access to the platform, citing the company’s “unlawful, persistent, and intentional” disregard for judicial rulings. This action was taken after X resumed its services on Wednesday following an automatic app update, which was viewed as a deliberate violation of the court’s suspension. The court’s ruling also threatened the company with a daily fine of over $900,000 for non-compliance.
In a statement, X described its return to service as “inadvertent and temporary.” However, Brazil’s main trade association for Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Abrint, confirmed that the platform was blocked again around 4:00 PM local time on Thursday. Judge Alexandre de Moraes, who has been a key figure in the legal proceedings against X, labeled the company “recalcitrant” and instructed the country’s telecommunications agency, Anatel, to take necessary actions to re-establish the block.
This legal clash is part of a broader effort by the Brazilian government to combat disinformation, particularly in the context of right-wing accounts accused of spreading fake news. The Supreme Court’s suspension of X last month followed Musk’s refusal to remove these accounts and his failure to appoint a legal representative in Brazil, as mandated by the court.
The suspension has not only angered Musk but has also sparked heated debates regarding freedom of expression and the regulation of social media platforms. With more than 22 million users in Brazil, the stakes are high for both the company and its users.
As part of the sanctions against X, Judge Moraes has also frozen the assets of Musk’s satellite internet service, Starlink, which has been operational in Brazil since 2022. This move aims to ensure the payment of fines levied against X for its non-compliance. Just last week, Moraes ordered the transfer of approximately $3 million from Musk’s companies to cover the penalties incurred.
Musk has publicly criticized Moraes on social media, referring to him as an “evil dictator” and even likening him to Voldemort from the “Harry Potter” series. Such comments highlight the contentious nature of the situation, which has drawn attention not only within Brazil but also from international observers concerned about the implications for freedom of speech.
The initial reinstatement of X was reportedly due to a new software update that allowed the app to use constantly changing internet protocol (IP) addresses through a service called Cloudflare, making it more challenging to block access. However, Abrint confirmed that X had ceased using Cloudflare, leading to the swift re-blocking of the platform.
Anatel stated that it had identified a new mechanism that it hoped would effectively prevent access to X once again. Additionally, the court’s ban includes provisions for punishing users who attempt to circumvent the block using technological methods such as virtual private networks (VPNs), with potential fines reaching up to $9,000.
As the situation continues to unfold, the conflict between Musk’s X and Brazilian authorities raises important questions about the role of social media in governance, the responsibilities of tech companies, and the limits of free expression in the digital age.
